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LA and Santa Ana rank among 25 best walking cities

by Cheryl Devall

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It might not be obvious through your car window, but a health and fitness magazine ranks Los Angeles and Santa Ana among the best walking cities in the country. Really, says KPCC’s Cheryl Devall.

It might not be obvious through your car window, but a health and fitness magazine ranks Los Angeles and Santa Ana among the best walking cities in the country. Really, says KPCC’s Cheryl Devall.

Cheryl Devall: Think of it this way – for most of the year the weather in these parts is better for walking than it is in much of the country. Climate is only one criterion Prevention magazine, Sperling’s Best Places, and the American Podiatric Medical Association factored in when they rated the best places for a good walk.

Safe streets, the number of parks per mile, and, believe it or not, air quality all counted too. Los Angeles – home to some great urban hiking – landed 14th on the list of the 25 best walking cities. The 18th spot went to Santa Ana – where the city and the historical society offer three-hour walking tours of cultural highlights.

The top-ranking city in the country is San Francisco – where a dozen local government agencies address issues related to walking. The entire list – and honorable mentions to the safest, most family-friendly, and best for walking commuters – is online at Prevention.com/Cities.